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Norfolk Va. Nov'r 3'd 1865.

Co'l O. Brown, Superintendent }
of Freedmen's Bureau, }
Richmond Va. }

Sir-

In an interview on 1st ins't with Cap't Flagg, superintendent of the Freedmen's Bureau in this city, (in which I asked him if he would forward to you my application for the recovery of rent of my property on Talbot Street in this city) he kindly said that he would do so, but frankly told me that he could not favourably indorse my application for recovery of rent for any period of time prior to 16th October last, for the reason that the Executive pardon (extended to me on the 20th Sept. last) shows that I have been a disloyal man, & for the farther reason that General Butler's General Order No. 20 of Bey. 12th 1864 precludes him (Cap't F.) from favouring my application. I sent in my application to the Bureau here on 1st ins't dated on that day, & presume it will reach you through the ordinary routine. General Butler's order NO. 20, above named, is as follows :

"All estates in this Department abandoned, or now occupied by Rebels, will be turned over by the Military Commanders to be taken possession of by the Superintendent of Negro Affairs or Treasury Agent."

With respect to the pardon, I respectfully submit that the pardon itself has by its very nature removed from one the